Bruin Hoops Starts Workouts

Tracy Pierson

09/18/2006

In accordance with NCAA rules, the UCLA basketball began limited workouts Friday. The team can practice together for a short period, or the coaches can work them out individually. Plus, there's a quick update on the progress of Arron Afflalo and Josh Shipp, and a short recruiting update on big target Kyle Singler...

The UCLA basketball team started its pre-season workouts, as allowed by the NCAA.

Each player is allowed two hours of workouts per week, and a program can conduct them together or individually.

The period for the workouts started Friday, and UCLA's freshmen had their first workout in front of UCLA coaches of their career.

Nikola Dragovic, the 6-8 forward from Serbia, participated. Dragovic completed the course work he was taking in the UCLA summer session, and it's anticipated he'll be set academically for this fall.

There are three veterans – Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Alfred Aboya and Ryan Wright – who are currently out of town and won't participate in this week's workouts. With the fall quarter having not started, and with the three of them all having done course work this summer, this week provided them a small window to take a short break and visit friends and relatives back east.

It's planned that the eight remaining players will have a workout today (Monday) with the coaches.

Arron Afflalo, the junior shooting guard, will be cleared to play this week. Afflalo is recovering from a stress fracture in his foot that has kept him out for 8 weeks. He also had four wisdom teeth removed last week.

Sophomore wing Josh Shipp is getting closer to 100%, according to sources close to the program.

Recruiting Update:

Kyle Singler, the 6-8 forward from Medford (Ore.) South Medford, the #4-ranked player in the country, had a good visit to Arizona this last weekend, according to reports.

Singler is scheduled to visit Duke officially this weekend. What might be even more more important than Singler arranging an official visit to UCLA is Singler not verbally committing to Duke on his visit. If he doesn't commit to Duke, and then arranges a visit with UCLA, which is thought to possibly be slated for Oct. 7th, then the Bruins have a chance.

It's believed that UCLA coaches could be in Oregon again this week for an in-school visit with Singler.